The 2000 Bihar Assembly election is often recalled for Nitish Kumar’s seven-day tenure as Chief Minister. This short period became a turning point in his political career, setting the stage for his future leadership in the state. Nitish Kumar became Bihar CM for 7 days after leading the NDA alliance, but he stepped down before proving his majority in the Assembly.
Following his resignation on 10 March 2000, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi quickly regained control. The RJD, with the help of independent MLAs, proved its strength in the House, and Rabri Devi was reinstated as Chief Minister. This marked another phase of RJD dominance in Bihar politics.
The election results revealed the tense political atmosphere. NDA secured 151 seats, while RJD won 124. Despite NDA’s strong showing in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, it could not secure a majority in the Assembly. Nitish Kumar refused to engage in horse-trading, preferring resignation over instability.
The year 2000 also witnessed Bihar’s bifurcation, with Jharkhand carved out on 15 November. This reshaped Bihar’s political and administrative structure, while Nitish Kumar’s brief CM role laid the foundation for his future rise.
